Exhibition of motion pictures and the like in daylight



May 5, 1925. 1,536,421

w. c. CARROLL EXHIBITION OF MOTION PICTURES AND IHE L'IKE IN DAYL IGHT Filed Nov. 20, 1924 fizz/orator of Australia,

Patented May}, 1925.

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' Application filed November 'To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ROLL, electrical engineer, a subject of the Kin of Great Britain and Ireland, residing in the city of St. Kilda, in the county of Bourke, State of Victoria, Commonwealth whose post-ofiice address is Victory- Picture Theatre, Carlisle Street, in the said city of St. Kilda, in the county of Bourke, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, useful Im rovements Relating to the Exhibition of otion Pictures and the like in Daylight, of which the following is a speci-' fication.

This invention relates particularly to the exhibition in daylight of cinematograph pictures or announcements and is also aplicable to the daylight exhibition of similar uminous' signs such as lantern slides.

I have ascertained by experiment that motion pictures and the like may be exhibited successfully in daylight by projecting the pictures onto a screen which holds a suitlike impregnating substancefin mechanical suspension and the primary objectof the present invention is to provide a method of exhibiting motion ictures and the like in daylight which emdies this characteristic feature. The screen is of an absorbent nature and may be maintained ,in the desired moistened or saturated condition when in use by the continuous application thereto of a suitable liquid orsolution which renders the screen translucent to the light rays of acinematograph or like machine as hereinafter described. Y

A further object of'the invention is to provide, simple compact and inexpensive apparatus operating in accordance with the above method and especially suited for advertising purposes. Such apparatus may be constructed and arranged to form a portable self contained unit adaptedfor continuously and automatically exhibiting'illustrations projected from a cinematograph film onto a screen forming part of the unit. Alternatively the apparatus may be arranged to project the pictures or announcements onto. the screen from a comparatively long ma e and if desired may be adapted for manual 0 eration.

Referring to the rawings which form part of this specification Figure 1 is a vertical section. of suitable CONRAD GAR- have invented certain new and 20, 1924. Serial 1T0. 751,123..

apparatus for carrying out the invention the apparatus being automatic in action and arranged within a portable cabinet to thereby form a self contained unit which maybe easily moved from place to place.

'Figure 2 is a front view of the apparatus seen in Figure 1 the front wall of the cabinet being removed. Certain parts are indicated in broken lines and other parts are omitted for convenience .of illustration.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view in elevation showing apparatus operating in accordance wth the invention and suitable for exhibiting larger illustrations at .a comparatively long range.

I In accordance with the invention motion pictures, and like luminous illustrations or announcements, may be projected from cinematograph films or lantern slides any suitable form of cinematograph or magic lan; tern being employed as the source of proj ection. In all instances the pictures or the like are thrown onto a screen by which a suitable liquid or semi-liquid substance is held in mechanical suspension so as to saturate or dampen the screen and render it suitable for the purpose in view. This screen may be of textile, fibrous, or like material which will readily absorb the liquid or like impregnating substance and in this respect I have found that thin butrelatively strong or tough paper having a matte surface will afford satisfactory results.

It has been found that paraffin oil is particularly satisfactory as a liquid for impregnating the absorbent screen, or a relatively thick'or semi-liquid solution prepared by dissolving petroleum jelly in paraffin oil may be used with equally effective results and is not liable to dry so quickly on the screen. It is to be distinctly understood however that various other liquid semi-liquid or like substances or solutions preferably of anoily nature may be employed with effective results and without departing from the scopeof the invention and the appended claims.

- Referring now to the drawings which are to be taken merely as examples of the practical application of the invention, Figures 1 and 2 show a portable apparatus including a box or cabinet 2 of suitable size and shape which may be equipped with wheels or castors 3.

Accommodated within the cabinet '2 is a cinematograph or motionpicture machine was in displaying adverti through the machine.

7 cabinet 2 so" that the fihn passes upwardly by'broken lines in Fi 'means of one or'more s be arranged to deliver the liquid from a resl which may includesuitable operatin mechanism indicated at 4 and a lantern indicated at 6. A relativelylow candle power illuminant such as is usually employed for Lnight cinematographs maybe used. The

mechanism 4 and'lantern 6 may be disposed near thebottom of the cabinet 2 or'otherwise as desired, and when it is intended that the apparatus should operate automatically sements, an endless band of film 7 may becontinuously moved The continuous film 7 may pass around guide rollers 8 suitably arranged within the and downwardly in vertically arranged folds or loops as seen for instance in-Figure 1. Alternatively the'film may be arranged in any other suitable formto permit a rela- 2 tively longband of film to be employed and accommodated 'in a relatively small area. The said guide rollers 8 are preferably provided at each end withflanges the inner faces of which are bevelled or inclined in-' 25 wardly towards the periphery of the roller to prevent catching or jamming of the film 7 against the flanges and to reduce friction to a minimum.

In order to present the pictures on a sufli- 30 ciently large scale, or reflectors 9 may be provided and-interposed between the projecting lens 11 and the screen. 12 to thereby amplify the dimensions of the illustration thrown onto thesereen. The ray or beam is indicated diagrammatically gure 1. Y The absorbent screen 12 maybe fastened to the 'wall 13 of the cabinet in any suitable manner so as to extend across an opening 14 l 40 formed said wall. whereby the image thrown onto the screen is clearly visible'from the exterior-of the cabinet. Y

Y The screen v12 is maintained in the desired moistened or saturatedcondition by the application thereto of a suita ble oily liquid or like substance asaforesaid and if in a liquid state this impregnating substance may be'supplied continuously to the screen by conductors, such as wieks 15 or tubes 16. These'conductorsmay ervoir 17 suitably supported as at 18 above the screen; to any desired point orpoints"; around thescreen. 'Where conductor tubes 16 are employed a control valve orcock 19 may be interposed'in each of said tubes for the purpose of regulating the flow of li uid from the reservoir 17 tov the screen 12. he

"liquid reservoir is provided with a tiller- 0 openingwhich may acap 20. 1

be normally closed by To assist the speedy and effective saturation ofthe screen a distributing element consisting of. a' strip .or border 21 ofabsorbent material such as felt or thelike, maybe laid projection closure 25.. I ductors 16 and other appurtenances aspreover and fastened to. the marginal ortion of the screen 12 the liquid being-directed by the conductor wicks15 cor-tubes 16' to the said strip or border 21 by which the liquid is distributed evenly around the screen soaks inwardly from the edges towards the centre thereof;

When the impregnating substance is of a relatively thick or semi liquid state'as before mentioned it the aid of a brush -or the like so-that the screen is thoroughly saturated or impregnated and. .will retain its moistened state for a con-- 'siderable time. Further applications of the m pregn'atingsubstance ma be made to the to-keep it inscreen at requisite -iiiterva the desired saturated or dampened condi- -B means of a door 22 maybe'had t; e mterior of the cabinet for cha t e general inspection purposes.-. cabinet may also be door 23 to pe'rmit liquid reservoir '17 e top of. the provldedwith a flap or of speedyi'iiccess to the for replenishing the su ply of ii uid therein. z

The ca inet 2 may be plrovided with suitable electric connectionswhereby the cinematograph with electric current from a suitable source such as a plug or adapter as indicated at 24. A stopping and starting switch and other desired accessories may also be provided as and where desired.

' certaiii instances it may be desirable to pro ect the pictures orannouncements onto the saturated screen-from a' comparatively viously mentioned may also, be provided in this examplevto apply liquid to the screen 12 or the impregnating substance may be applied to the screen by hand as aforesaid.

In operation the-film 7 passes through the cinematograph the impregnationof which with the oily sub stance renders it translucent to the projected light rays which pass through and brilliantly illuminate the screen. The image thus thrown onto the screen 12 from the interior of the cabinet or enclosure may be may be a 'pliedto the absorbent screen by hand wit fi1m7 and for effecting ad gilstments an I or like machine can be supplied ong range and suitable apparatus for such be installed in any desired 27 over which theage directly onto the ab-- which displays the illus-' or like machine forthe'proa ject-ion of the illustration onto the screen 12 clearly observed from the exterior thereof in daylight and without the aid of a specially darkened apartment as is ordinarily necessary in moving picture projection. The apparatus is thus highly suited for advertising and like purposesunder lighting conditions Where thedisplay of such illuminated announcements is impracticable with ordinary cinematograph and the like and the cost of existing apparatus for displaying luminous pictures in daylight is prohibitive.

Having now described "my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is e 1. In a screen to be used for day light exhibition of motion pictures, including a fabric section to be impregnated with a fluid for rendering the same translucent, and a margin of absorbent material on such fabric section for delivering the fluid to the latter.

2. A motion picture screen, including a fabric section having a marginal edge of absorbent material, and means for delivering a'fluid to such edge of absorbent material.

3. A motion picture screen, comprising a section of fabric, an edge of absorbent material secured thereto, a liquid containing tank, and means for delivering said liquid to such absorbent edge, whereby the liquid may be delivered to the screen proper from the edges toward the center.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM C. CARROLL. Witness: VICTOR J. KELSON. 

